Local Climate Action Officially Recognized in Global Climate Negotiations after COP28

Thus, COP28 became the first climate summit where local decision-makers from cities, municipalities, regions, and states had the opportunity to contribute to the formal climate summit. The interaction between national and local climate efforts at COP28 signals a strengthened collaboration between administrative levels to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality and resilience. In the face of the climate crisis, there is a critical need for binding action from countries, businesses, cities, municipalities, and citizens to translate words and promises into action if we are to ‘bridge the gap’ and achieve the 1.5-degree target.

Denmark is among the absolute pioneers in this field, and leading up to COP30 in Brazil, there is a unique opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between administrative levels in Denmark and develop models that can be extended to the rest of the world.

Integrated Climate Action

At COP28, about 500 representatives from subnational entities across more than 60 countries on six continents[1] participated in a 'Local Climate Action Summit' organized by the COP president in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropy. The Local Climate Action Summit spanned two days and was the first time that local, national, and global decision-makers were brought together as part of the UN's climate summit.

The meeting aimed to create a new paradigm for fully integrated climate action across administrative levels. This integration should contribute to accelerating local energy transition, strengthening local resilience and climate adaptation, integrating local contributions into the design of national and international climate policies, and transforming financing mechanisms to provide the necessary funds for local climate efforts in the coming years.

The local summit follows the increasing involvement of cities and municipalities worldwide in the climate battle, adopting local climate action plans that systematize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting society to the consequences of climate change. CONCITO has previously emphasized the crucial role of municipalities in several areas to contribute to national climate transition. This occurs not in a vacuum but in collaboration with national and international climate goals that set the overall direction and possibilities for climate action, which municipalities then implement, develop, or challenge. By incorporating municipal contributions into the national transition, it can strengthen the overall effort, create a better connection to added value, achieve greater legitimacy, and accelerate the deployment of effective climate solutions nationwide.

The understanding of the need to link national and local efforts was also the focal point of a declaration launched at COP28: CHAMP, which stands for Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration with subnational administrations in planning, financing, implementing, and monitoring climate action. Countries signing the declaration will strive to consult local administrations and collaborate with them to realize potentials for greenhouse gas reduction and climate adaptation.

There is a particular emphasis on involving local contributions in the development of the next generation of national climate plans, the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs, to be submitted to the UN climate secretariat by the first quarter of 2025. What is included in the national climate plans is extremely important for keeping the 1.5-degree target from the Paris Agreement alive. At the time of writing, 71 parties have endorsed the CHAMP declaration, including Denmark, and these countries will have to clarify how the inclusion process will unfold after COP28.

Denmark as a Pioneer

The strong focus on local climate action is particularly evident in Denmark, and the 'Danish case' is drawing international attention. By the end of 2023 almost all Danish municipalities have adopted a climate action plan certified by the international city network C40 Cities as compatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement. This has been achieved through the partnership project DK2020[AW1] , in which CONCITO participates as a project leader and knowledge partner. The project has elevated Denmark among the absolute global frontrunners when it comes to the dissemination and quality of municipal climate efforts.

Therefore, there was a strong Danish presence at COP28, with a delegation [AW2] [TD3] consisting of mayors, a regional council chairman, and representatives from partnership organizations. The aggregated ambitions of Danish municipalities for both greenhouse gas reduction and climate adaptation[AW4] [TD5]  have recently been presented in two comprehensive analyses, forming the framework for a session that outlined Danish plans and experiences.

The significant interest in the Danish example indicates the need for and desire to activate local climate action - globally. Denmark has a unique opportunity here. Through a rapid but thought through implementation of the declaration, Denmark can outline how countries worldwide can create a well-structured collaboration between national and local administrations with the aim of accelerating climate action and the energy transition away from fossil fuels, as called for in the COP28 agreement.

Now is the time for us in Denmark to roll up our sleeves and put action into the words of the agreement—to demonstrate, motivate, and engage other countries to accelerate their climate efforts.

About DK2020/Climate Alliance

The Climate Alliance originates from the DK2020 partnership, which invited all municipalities in Denmark to follow in the footsteps of the most climate-ambitious cities in the world and become part of a group of international climate frontrunners. So far, 97 municipalities have joined the initiative, and municipalities and regions across the country have worked together to develop new solutions that can lift climate work across municipal and regional borders. DK2020 will conclude by the end of 2023, with municipalities having approved and politically anchored climate action plans ready to move from planning to action. The Climate Alliance will follow-up and aid municipalities in putting plans into action.